Key holder



May 21, 1940. J. c. DAWSON, JR

KEY HOLDER Original Filed March 30, 1939 Patented May 21, 1940 UNITED STATES KEY HOLD-ER James C. Dawson, Jr.,

to Leah L. Gardner Original application .Kirkwood, Mo., assignor University City, Mo.

March 30, 1939, Serial No, Divided and this application July 31,

1939, Serial No. 287,601 1 3 Clainis. (Cl. ilk-456) This invention relates to key holders; and has special reference to holders or hangers for keys for use in connection with key cases adapted to be carried in pockets, hand-bags, or purses.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved key holder or hanger composed of a single section of resilient wire shaped to form a straight shank suspending arm having a supporting head or enlargement on one end thereof, a

laterally curved U-shaped seat at the opposite end of said arm, and an integral loop extending from said seat and having the end portion releasably fittedinsaid seat andoverlying said aria-T; Another object of the invention is to provide an improved key holder composed of a single resilient section'of wire having supporting means at one end, and a loop integrally united with the opposite end of said wire by a laterally curved portion and having the free end of said loopto releasably seated in said curved portion and held thereby in position to close the loop and prevent detachment of keys engaged with the loop.

Other objects will appear from the following description, reference being made to the annexed as drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a plan view showing my improved key holder or hanger pivotally connected with a supporting device attached to a key case.

Fig. 2 is a sectional vlew'on the line 22 of 30 Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of my improved key holder or hanger detached from its support.-

This is a division of my copending application Serial No. 264,901, filed March 30, 1939, for im-' 85 movements in Key cases.

My improved key holder or hanger is shown in pivotal connection with a tubular support I attached to a panel 2 of a key case and having a number of slots 3. The holder or hanger comprises a section of resilient wire or rod including an arm 4 provided with an enlarged head ion one end thereof. The arm 4 is designed and intended to extend through one of the slots 3 in the tubular portion'l of the key case. 'I'hediameter 45 of the head 5 is greater than the Width of the slot 3 through which the arm 4 extends, so that the key holder or hangenwill be pivotally supported and capable of turning movements about the axis of the arm I and for swinging movements 50 along the slot 3. The wire or rod is bent to form a laterally extended U-shaped portion 6 having a depth approximately equal to the diameter of the wire or rod. Beyond the U-shaped portion 6, the wire or rod is extended downwardly and lat- 4 the nature and principle thereof.

erally and thencurved to form a loop I, the end portion 8 of which is straight and adapted to seat in the U-shaped portion 6. and against the side of the arm 4. When the end portion8 is-seated within the U-shaped portion 6, the inherent resil- 5 iency of the wire or rod presses said end portion 8 closely into and against the curved portion 6 in a relationship in which the end 8 is against and parallel with the arm 9. However, by applying lateral pressure against the end portion 8, it may 10 be disengaged from the seat 6 and the holder or hanger opened to permit attachment or removal of a key. The loop 1 is capable of receiving one or more keys as desired, and the holder may be turned and moved with respect to the tubular 15 support I,

thereon.

While the wire or rod shown is round in cross-- section, it may be made in different shapes as desired. I contemplate such variations as necessary to adapt the invention to individual preferences. The invention may be varied in this and in other particulars without departure from I claim:

1. In a key case, a key hanger composed of a section of flexible wire and including a straight shank portion, a resilient loop portion, a laterally curved seat integrally uniting said shank and said loop portion, and an end portion extending beyond said loop portion adapted to be engaged in and disengaged from said seat and being substantially parallel with said shank portion when engaged in said seat.

2. In' a key case, a key holder composed of a single section of resilient wire including a straight supporting arm, means at one end of said arm for engaging a support, a resilient loop portion beyond the opposite end of said arm, a laterally curved portionintegrally uniting said arm and 40 said loop portion and having a depth approximately equal to the diameter of said wire, and an end 'releasably-sea'ted insaid curved portion to close said loop and adapted to be disengaged therefrom by lateral pressure to open said loop.

3. In a key case, a key holder composed of a single section of flexible resilient ,wire including a supporting arm at one end, a resilient loop, a laterally curved seat integrally uniting said arm and said loop, a resilient'end releasably engaged in said loop and extending beyond the same against said arm and being disengageable from said loop by lateral pressure.

JAMES C. DAWSON. JR.

irrespective of the number of keys. 

